Mumbai: A week after sharing stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and showering praises on him, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday attacked the NDA government over the issue of issue of demonetisation and Rs 98,000-crore bullet train project.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Getty Images

Pawar alleged that the Modi government was harassing people on the pretext of demonetisation. But people will respond to it by voting against his party, he said at a rally in Ghatkopar in the run-up to the crucial BMC elections due early next year.

"This government is not concerned about millions of people commuting by local trains in Mumbai... Trains in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai can be operated in Rs 98,000 crore. But, Modi is in a hurry to go to Ahmedabad," the NCP leader said.

On the issue of demonetisation, Pawar said, "If the situation continues, it will become difficult for the common man to survive."

"The common man is suffering and the Prime Minister says those with black money have lost sleep. 'Parivartan' (change) must take place in the next Lok Sabha and the Assembly elections," Pawar said.

Citing official figures, Pawar said only 0.28 percent of the total notes in circulation were fake. However, 86 percent of the total notes in circulation were scrapped, he said.

He said Modi should travel abroad and resolve India's (global) issues, but he should travel as a representative of the country and not of BJP.

Problems will increase if the infrastructure is not improved. People of Mumbai should decide to oust those troubling them, the NCP leader said.

"If the head of the country (prime minister) is responsible for the feeling that this is a country of criminals, then we must prove that India is a country of hard-working people," said the NCP supremo.

"The country is in the grip of an economic emergency due to Modi's (demonetisation) decision," he added.

The former Union Minister described West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan against demonetisation, as a "simple and honest" leader.

The Shiv Sena had recently supported her over demonetisation.

On 8 November, Modi had announced the decision to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes.